“Still, his testimony may suggest an area of investigation, if only he would present himself.”
Gark bounded into the room, eyes bulging in excitement. He called out in a rasping voice: “Weamish is on the roof. He is behaving in an unusual manner!”
Twango flourished his arms in distress. “Senile, yes, but foolish so soon? He has only just retired!”
“What?” cried Soldinck. “Weamish retired? A great surprise!”
“For us all! He settled his accounts to the last terce, then declared his retirement.”
“Most odd!” said Soldinck. “We must bring Weamish down from the roof, and at once!”
With Gark bounding ahead, Twango ran out into the garden, with Soldinck, Rincz, Jornulk and Cugel coming after.
The night was dark, illuminated only by a few sickly constellations. Light from within, striking up through the roof-panes, showed Weamish walking a precarious route along the ridge.
Twango called out: “Weamish, why are you walking on high? Come down at once!”
Weamish looked here and there to discover the source of the call. Observing Twango and Soldinck, he uttered a wild cry in which defiance seemed mingled with mirth.
“That is at best an ambiguous response,” said Soldinck.
Twango called again: “Weamish, a number of scales are missing, and we wish to ask a question or two.”
“Ask away, wherever you like and all night long — anywhere except only here. I am walking the roof and do not care to be disturbed.”
“Ah, but Weamish, it is you of whom we wish to ask the questions! You must come down at once!”
“My accounts are settled! I walk where I will!”
Twango clenched his fists. “Master Soldinck is puzzled and disturbed! The missing scales are irreplaceable!”
“No less am I, as you will learn!” Again Weamish uttered his strange cachinnation.
Soldinck spoke sourly: “Weamish has become addled.”
“Work gave his life meaning,” explained Twango. “He dived deep into the slime and found a whole nest of scales, so he paid off his account. Ever since he has been acting strangely.”
Soldinck asked: “When did he find the scales?”
“Only two days ago.” Once more Twango raised his voice. “Weamish! Come down at once! We need your help!”
Soldinck asked: “Weamish found his scales after we had accepted the last shipment?”
“Quite true. One day later, as a matter of fact.”
“A curious coincidence.”
Twango stared at him blankly. “Surely you cannot suspect Weamish!”
“The facts point in his direction.”
Twango turned sharply about. “Gark, Gookin, Cugel! Up to the roof! Help Weamish to the ground!”
Cugel spoke haughtily. “Gark and Gookin are my subordinates. Inform me as to your wishes and I will issue the necessary orders.”
“Cugel, your attitudes have become intolerable! You are hereby demoted! Now, up on the roof with you! I want Weamish brought down at once!”
“I have no head for heights,” said Cugel. “I resign my position.”
“Not until your accounts are settled. They include the fine cheeses into which you flung Gookin.”
Cugel protested, but Twango turned his attention back to the roof and refused to listen.
Weamish strolled back and forth along the ridge. Gark and Gookin appeared behind him. Twango called up: “Weamish, take all precautions! Gark and Gookin will lead the way!”
Weamish gave a final wild scream, and running along the ridge, hurled himself off into space, to land head-first upon the pavement below. Gark and Gookin crept to the edge of the roof to peer pop-eyed down at the limp figure.
After a brief inspection, Twango turned to Soldinck. “I fear that Weamish is dead.”
“What then of the missing scales?”
“You must look elsewhere,” said Twango. “The theft could not have occurred at Flutic.”
“I am not so sure,” said Soldinck. “In fact, I suspect otherwise.”
“You are deceived by coincidences,” said Twango. “The night is chill; let us return inside. Cugel, convey the corpse to the gardener’s shed in the back garden. Weamish’s grave is ready; in the morning you may bury him.”
“If you recall,” said Cugel, “I have resigned my place. I no longer consider myself employed at Flutic, unless you concede distinctly better terms.”
